i6o Natural History Bulletin. 



Our common species and rather common Slime - mould. 

 Found in September and October on dead twigs, leaves, etc., 

 in the woods. The sporangia are rather compact, stout, per- 

 sistent little structures, easily recognized by the unaided eye. 

 The capillitium is strongly developed, rigid, snow-white, the 

 spores fuscous, variable. 



FULIGO, Haller. 



Sporangia strand-like, intricately woven in and out among 

 each other to form a large cushion-shaped, asthalioid mass. 

 The outermost layer without spores, calcareous, forming a 

 thick but fragile crust. The middle layer spore-bearing, pro- 

 vided with a calcigerous capillitium. The lowermost layer 

 developed as a membranous hypothallus. 



66. FuLiGO VARiANS, Somnicrfelt. Plate X, Figs. 2, 2a 

 and lb. 



Plasmodium bright yellow. Plasmodiocarp brown or yel- 

 lowish-brown, of variable size and shape, one to five inches in 

 diameter, and one-half an inch to an inch thick, enclosed by a 

 distinct calcareous crust which varies greatly in texture, thick- 

 ness and color, anon brown, stout, persistent, sometimes thin, 

 bright yellow, scarce recognizable. Capillitium well devel- 

 oped but variable in color and extent. Spore-mass dull black, 

 sooty. Spores spherical, purplish-brown, smooth, .007-.010. 



Very common in summer, June to September, everywhere. 

 On sultry summer days the yellow plasmodium may be found 

 abundant, streaming over rotten straw or other refuse, about 

 barns, wooden pavements, walks, etc., even in towns and near 

 the homes of men. In the woods likewise abounding; on rot- 

 ten logs, stumps, leaf-heaps, everywhere; in fruiting, climbing 

 from its nutritive base and occupying some elevated position, 

 several feet up on the stem of a living tree, for instance. In 



